Psychoactive Substances Bill [Lords]

– in a Public Bill Committee at on 27 October 2015.

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[Mr George Howarth in the Chair]

Photo of George Howarth George Howarth Labour, Knowsley 9:25, 27 October 2015

Before we begin, I have a few preliminary announcements that I hope will be helpful. First, the Committee’s quorum is six members, including the Chair. Secondly, will people be good enough to switch any electronic devices to silent? I remind the Committee that, regrettably, tea and coffee are not allowed during sittings. Any Members who wish to remove their jacket, or any other limiting item of their apparel, should feel free to do so.

We will now consider the programme motion on the amendment paper before considering a motion to enable the reporting of written evidence for publication. In view of the time available, I hope we can take those motions formally without debate.

Ordered,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.25 am on Tuesday 27 October) meet—

(a) at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 27 October;

(b) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 29 October,

(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 3; Schedule 1; Clauses 4 to 39; Schedule 2; Clauses 40 to 56; Schedule 3; Clauses 57 to 59; Schedule 4; Clauses 60 to 62; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(3) the proceedings on the Bill shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Thursday 29 October.—(Mike Penning.)

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chairman, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Mike Penning.)

Photo of George Howarth George Howarth Labour, Knowsley

Copies of written evidence received by the Committee will be made available in the Committee Room.

We now begin line-by-line consideration of the Bill. The selection list for today’s sittings is available in the room and shows how the selected amendments have been grouped together for debate. Grouped amendments are generally on the same or a similar issue. A Member who has put their name to the lead amendment in a group will be called first, and other Members are then free to catch my eye to speak on all or any amendments within the group. A Member may speak more than once in a single debate. I will work on the assumption that the Minister wishes the Committee to reach a decision on all Government amendments.

Please note that decisions on amendments take place not in the order they are debated but in the order they appear on the amendment paper—in other words, debates  occur according to the selection list and decisions are taken when we come to the clause that the amendment affects. I hope that explanation is helpful. I will use my discretion to decide whether to allow separate stand part debates on individual clauses and schedules following the debate on relevant amendments.